Alex- 4 Journals

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Dear Journal,

My name is William Mandel, and I work at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University. I love what I do, and I have been very successful at the university. Recently, I have been getting strange letters, and I feel that I am being watched. I have a feeling that federal officials believe that I am up to some un-American activities which is not true. I have heard a lot about Senator Joseph McCarthy and his campaign to weed out Communist Party members in the country. This makes me nervous because they might know about the few communist meetings that I attended many years ago which would lead them to believe that I am a communist or have communist sympathies. I am prepared to stand up to such an institution because I believe that I have the right as an American citizen to believe whatever I want to believe. Hopefully it will not get to that point, but I will not let the senator's wrath fall through the woodwork.

-William


Dear Journal,

I have been notified that I will have to appear before a congressional committee which will determine whether or not I am considered a threat to the United States of America. I am somewhat concerned about how the committee will act because there are some factors against me. Unfortunately, attending some communist party meetings in the past and my controversial career choices do make me somewhat suspicious. They will most likely also bring up my studies in the Soviet Union during college. I need to think deeply about how to respond to such serious questions. However, I know that I am not what these people make suspects out to be. I may have some communist sympathies, but I am not an active member of the party and never have been. The whole topic of communism fascinates me, however, and I do know a lot about it. I will update my journal with news of the hearing in a few days.

-William


Dear Journal,

Today took a lot of courage and strength to get through. I had to testify in front of a congressional committee which could ultimately determine my future. The Senate un-American Activities committee feels that I have communist sympathies and that I am an unfit citizen of this country. Senator McCarthy and his crew questioned me heavily on my personal past and where I have and haven't been. They even wanted me to testify against my friends in front of the whole session. I was freaking out. I was reluctant to tell the committee a whole lot of information as I didn't want any of my innocent friends to have to become involved in this nightmare. I haven't been able to sleep at night. My family is very worried about this whole situation, but they understand that I cannot just sell my friends down the river and testify against them. The whole thing is really a lose-lose situation unfortunately. I am furious now as I suspect that Senator McCarthy will have my name blacklisted for not cooperating before the committee today. I will probably lose my job, and my life will become even more insane. I will keep you posted on my status.

-William


Dear Journal,

Well, my worst nightmare came true. I have been discharged from the Hoover Institution, and no one wants to hire me now. Times are tough, but I'm still glad that I did what I know was right. I pleaded the fifth amendment in front of the committee that was examining me. I have no regrets with the way I handled my case. The only regret that I have today is for the foolishness of Senator McCarthy and his crew. As far as I'm concerned, they're just looking for publicity and popularity, and they're willing to damage the lives of ordinary Americans to do so. I for one believe in the saying "what goes around, comes around". Simply put, this means that Senator McCarthy will pay the price for his actions. I will get through these tough times, and I will be victorious in the end. Through my experience, I have learned a great lesson. It was worth it to stand up to the McCarthy menace because I let him know who's boss. I refused to give in to his attempt at intimidating me, and I was happy to do so. Hopefully, with time, I will be able to regain my reputation, and people will see just how wrong McCarthy really was.

-William



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This is me at my congressional hearing.